Posted By me again
does an employer have to provide a place of worship in the workplace for prayers during the working day?

Posted By Merv Newman
While there is no obligation, if you have a significant number of Muslims it might be good HR as well as safer and more convenient, to suggest that they gather in a particular place at the appropriate times.

I have run a number of training courses where I have had to make the afternoon break coincide with the hour of prayer.

On one occasion a gentleman I was with checked his wris[expletive deleted]ch, checked his compass and rolled out his mat in an airport corridor.

Men don't mind praying in public but the women prefer to pray in privacy. usually at home.

hope this helps.

Merv

Posted By Ali
It's not in the Workplace Regs as a specific welfare requirement, so legally it's not required. However, if the employer wants to do so there is nothing to stop him. Sorry if this sounds a bit blunt, but I used to be an inspector until recently ! There is legislation, however, that prevents employers from discriminating on grounds of religion "Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regs 2003 and employees may make a "reasonable" request for prayer facilities under this.

Posted By William
I thought that something was passed in 2000 or 2001 about this, cant remember what as not religious myself.

I can remember a strange one which was in the news the other year though. There was a sailor from Edinburgh who claimed to be a satanist and he had to perform a satanic ritual aboard a naval ship to have his faith either recognised or so he could practice it aboard ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/3948329.stm) . He is allowed to practice his rituals on board the ship, where about I do not know but it would be good done on the deck of a ship in a war zone as the psychological terror inflicted to an enemy by a sailor choking a chicken in full view in a black hooded robe would be considerable.

Posted By Lilian McCartney
I'm with Merv on this one

You could argue that not praying would be stressful.

Find somewhere quiet for folks to use

Lilian

Posted By William
Not sure, maybe it was a turkey, now that would strike fear into any enemy....a British war ship with a hoodie on deck slaughtering some poultry and looking menacingly at the enemy and mouthing the words "you are next", I think we have discovered why a well known secular state has stopped its nuclear arms programme, next stop the gulf!

Posted By IOSH Moderator
The Moderators have taken the decision to lock this thread.

Thank you to those who contributed in helping the originator to look for answers.

Please could contributors always guard against giving offence in their postings to others.

Jane Blunt
Forum Moderator